Sifter top



A LIMBACH May 26, 1936.

SIFTER TOP Filed Feb. 8, 1935 ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1936 UNTEDSTATES onpas cargar orgies SIFTER TOP Alex Limbach, Carmel, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1935, Serial No. 5,629

9 Claims.

This invention relates to sifter tops and the manufacture thereof. Thisinvention relates particularly to sifter tops adapted to be used inconnection with containers for inely divided materials such as powderedcosmetics and the like.

It is a purpose of this invention to afford sifter tops which can bemade and assembled inexpensively and to afford sifter tops which haveincreased convenience and adaptability in use.

Heretofore sifter tops for containers for cosmetics and the like havebeen made with various forms of relatively sliding members and the likewhich as compared with the device of this invention are costly tomanufacture. Likewise the assembly of such prior sifter tops withcontainers has been expensive as a special tool of some Sort for unitingthe two parts together has been required.

It is a feature of this invention that the sifter tops can beinexpensively made in two pieces from sheet metal. It is a furtherfeature that the sifter top can be assembled Without a special machineor crimping. Likewisev one of the parts of the sifter top can be at thesame time the breast and neck of the container so that the entire neck,breast and top closure can be made in only two pieces. Further featuresof this invention are that the closure is self opening and closing (bygravity) that is, the closure automatically opens upon inverting thecontainer and closes tightly enough upon turning the container rightside up to keep the scent in the cosmetic, for example, from escapingand to keep dust and dirt out of the container. A further feature of apreferred embodiment of this invention is that the closure can bepositively closed as for shipment and sale as well as for use intraveling. The top can be opened readily by pulling it out eitherstraight or with a twisting motion.

Further purposes, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent in connection with the following description of an illustrativeembodiment of this invention shown in the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container having a sifter topembodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the sifter top with the container towhich it is attached partially inverted.

Fig. 3` is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 2 with the container towhich the sifter top is at- -tached right side up.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the sifter top with the closurepushed downwardly into positively closed position with respect to theneck.

In the drawing a container IIJ is shown which can be of any desired sizeor shape. Secured to the container Ill as by friction is the memberindicated generally by the reference character II, which membercomprises the breast portion I2 and the neck I3. The member II ispreferably made from a single piece of metal as by stamping.

Within the neck I3 is the closure which is indicated generally by thereference character Ill. The closure comprises a throat I5 loosely tting10 Within neck I3. Thethroat I5 ts loosely within the neck I3 in suchmanner that there will be suicient clearance between the outsidediameter of the throat and the internal diameter` of the neck to permitfinely divided material in the conl5 tainer to sift therethrough. Theamount of clearance can be made as desired depending upon the neness ofsubdivision of the material in the container, and the rate'of flowdesired. Preferably both the neck I3 and throat I5 are of sub- 20stantial length so that the position of the closure I4 is guided by neckI3.

Spaced from the ears I6 is the closure shoulder II which is adapted torest, for example, against the top of the neck I3 and preferably seatssnugly 25 against neck I3. Above the shoulder I1 is the friction lockingsurface I8 and at the top of the closure is a stop shoulder I9 whichpreferably has knurlings 20 therearound. The stop shoulder I9 preferablyprojects only slightly from surface I8 30 so as not to catch powder thatis sifted through the sifter top. The end of the closure is imperforateas shown so as to prevent the escape of material in the container exceptthrough the kspace between the throat I5 and neck I3. 35

When the container I0 is in an upright position the parts of the siftertop are in the position shown in Fig. 3. The weight of the top I4 issufficient to cause it to fall by gravity so that the shoulder Il restsagainst the top of neck I3. The closure thus made is sufcient in normaluse when the container is left on a bureau t010for example, as theclosure is suciently tight to keep the scent of material in thecontainer from escaping and to prevent dust and dirt from getting withinthe container. When it is desired to sift material in the containerthrough the sifter top the container is inverted in the usual way andthis causes the parts to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. There issufficient spacing between the shoulder I1 and the ears I6 to permitlongitudinal movement of the throat I5 in neck I3 so that a substantialspace is afforded between the shoulder I'I and the top of neck I3. Sincethere is substantial clearance between throat I5 and neck I3 and since55 the shoulder II is spaced from the top of neck I3, the contents ofthe container may be readily sifted out to the extent desired. When thedesired amount of the material has been removed, the container is merelyturned upright and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 3 thuseffectively closing the container again.

If it is desired to more permanently close the sifter closure this canbe readily done merely by pressing the closure I 4 downwardly until theparts assume the position shown in Fig. 4. The frictional lockingsurface I8 preferably is slightly inclined so as to be smaller indiameter at the bottom than at the top. 'Ihe difference in diameterbetween the bottom and top may be about five thousandths of an inch, forexample. The external diameter of surface I8 is preferably approximatelythe same as the internal diameter of the neck I3 so that the shoulderI'I will normally rest upon the top of neck I 3 but can, by moderatepressure, be pushed down into the neck so that the inside of neck I3will be in frictional contact with surface I8. The slight taper orinclination of surface I 8 is such that the further the top IB is pushedinto neck I3 the tighter it will be held. The limit to which theclosure'can be pushed in is determined by the stop I9.

When the parts are in the position shown in .Fig 4 the top I4 is held inneck .I3 against accidental displacement. This is desirable in originalshipment and also is advantageous when, for any reason such as thepacking of such containers in articles of luggage, it is desired tosecurely close the container. The sifter .top can be readily openedeither by `pulling it straight out or with a twisting motion. Usually acombined twisting and pulling motion is very convenient and it is to .benoted that the opening of the sifter top lends itself to such ,movementFrictional closing is normally suicient to positively close the siftertop, but the frictional closing means may be used in connection with orsubstituted by other positive closing `means operable by manipulation ofthe .top i4 relatively to the neck I3. Thus any means for positivelypreventing theseparation of the shoulder Il from the neck I3 andsecuring the closure with reference to the neck so that material in thecontainer cannot escape, may be used. ,Howeven the frictional meansabove described is regarded as preferable.

As has been .pointed out above other features Yof my invention relate toeconomy in manufacture and assembly. It has been pointed out above thatthe .topmember .Il comprising breast I2 and neck I3 can be readilystamped from one piece of metal. Likewise the closure I@ can be madefrom a single .piece of metal. Thus .in making closure I4 a metal disccan be shaped into a cylinder closed at one end and the cylinder canthen be given the contour above described. The metal used is preferablya resilient metal so that ears I 6 will have a certain amount .ofresiliency. The parts I I and I 4 can be made from the same type ofmetal very inexpensively. While one piece construction of the parts I Iand I4 is regarded as preferable, these parts respectively can be madefrom a plurality of pieces of metal while still taking advantage of someof the features of this invention.

'To assemble the parts all that isvnecessary is to push the closure Idown into the neck I3. Since the ears IS are resilient they will beretracted out of the way and upon full insertion of the throat I5 intoneck I3 the ears I6 will spring out again to afford stop means adaptedto prevent the withdrawal of the closure I4 from the neck I3. It is tobe noted that the operation is most simple and can be performed byunskilled labor without any tool. This is of great advantage and is tobe contrasted with methods of assembly heretofore used wherein a siftertop device has been inserted in the top of a container and has beensecured thereto as by crimping in an operation requiring specialmachinery and skilled labor.

While this invention has been described in connection with certainspecic embodiments thereof it is to be understood that this has beendone merely for purposes of illustration. Referring to the closure I4 itis apparent that it may -take different forms and likewise it may beused with containers having an opening either with or without a neckadapted to receive the same and such opening can either be or not beassociated with a breast portion of a container. It is believed howeverthat the foregoing is sufficient to enable one to understand andpractice this invention which is to be governed as to scope by thelanguage of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sifter top comprising a member having a neck, and a closure forsaid neck comprising a throat portion loosely fitting within said neck,there being a space between the exterior of said throat portion and theinterior of said neck adapted for the passage vof finely-dividedmaterial therethrough, an imperforate outer end, a portion intermediatesaid end and said throat adapted for frictional contact with said neckand to substantially prevent the escape of finelydivided materialbetween said portion and said neck when said portion is in frictionalcontact with said neck, and stop means for preventing the withdrawal ofsaid throat from said neck but permitting limited free longitudinalmovement of said throat in said neck.

2. A sifter top which comprises a member having breast and neck portionsand a closure for said neck portion, said closure comprising a throatportion slidable by gravity within said neck, there being a spacebetween the exterior of said throat portion and the interior of saidneck adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough, ashoulder having a maximum external diameter approximately the same asthe internal diameter of said neck, an imperforate ,outer end, animperforate friction surface intermediate said end and said shoulderadapted to be pushed into and withdrawn from said neck and conforming tosaid neck, and stops adjacent` the ends of said closure adapted toprevent the ends of said closure passing through said neck,

the throat portion of said closure having a limited llongitudinal playbetween said shoulder and the said stop which is adjacent the end ofsaid neck remote from said shoulder.

3. A sifter top which comprises a member having breast and neck portionsand a closure for said neck. portion, said closure comprising a throatloosely tting within said neck and of approximately uniform diameter,there being a space between the exterior of said throat portion and theinterior of said neck adapted for the passage of finely-divided materialtherethrough, a shoulder at an end of said throat portion having amaximum diameter about the same as the internal diameter of said neckand adapted to rest against said neck, an imperforate end portion beyond.said shoulder, releasable means adapted to positively maintain saidneck closed by said closure when said shoulder is pushed into said neck,and stop means adjacent the end of said throat remote from said shoulderadapted to prevent withdrawal of said throat from said neck Whilepermitting limited free movement of said throat in said neck so that thesaid shoulder can move from said neck when said sifter top is invertedfor sifting nely divided material between said throat and said neck.

4. A sifter top including a one piece closure adapted to be insertedinto an opening in a container, said closure comprising a first portionof substantial length loosely fitting within said opening, there being aspace between the exterior of said rst portion and the interior of saidopening adapted for the passage of finelydivided material therethrough,a second portion of substantial length more adjacent the outer end thansaid first portion which is adapted to t frictionally within saidopening and which is adapted to prevent the passage of iinely-dividedmaterial between same and said opening when inserted in said opening,and a shoulder between said rst and second portions adapted to preventsaid second portion being inserted in said opening except by substantialpositive actuation.

5. A sifter top including a closure adapted to be inserted in an openingin a container, said closure comprising an imperforate outer end, asurface portion adapted to t snugly within said opening of saidcontainer, a stop between said imperforate end and said surface portion,a throat portion loosely fitting within said opening and movablelongitudinally by gravity therein, there being an annular space betweenthe exterior of said throat and the interior of said opening adapted forthe passage of finely-divided material therethrough, a shoulder betweensaid surface and throat portions, and a stop adjacent the other end ofsaid closure adapted to prevent the withdrawal of said throat portionfrom said opening.

6. A sifter top including a closure adapted to be inserted in an openingin a container, said closure comprising an imperforate outer end, animperforate surface portion adapted to fit snugly within said opening ofsaid container, a stop between said imperforate end and said surfaceportion, an imperforate throat portion loosely tting within said openingand movable longitudinally by gravity therein, there being an annularspace between the exterior of said throat and the interior of saidopening adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough,and a stop adjacent the other end of said closure adapted to prevent thewithdrawal of said throat portion from said opening.

7. A sifter top which comprises a member having a breast and neckportion, and a closure for said neck, said closure comprising a throatportion loosely fitting within said neck and longitudinally slidable bygravity therein, there being a space between the exterior of said throatportion and the interior of said neck adapted for the passage offinely-divided material therethrough, a shoulder adapted to rest againstsaid neck when said top is in upright position, means for preventingsaid closure from falling out of said neck when said sifter top isinverted, and releasable means for positively preventing withdrawal ofsaid shoulder beyond position for maintaining closed contact betweensaid shoulder and said neck.

8. A sifter top which comprises a member having breast and neck portionsand a one piece closure adapted to close said neck, said closurecomprising an imperforate throat loosely fitting withinl said neck,there being an annular space between the exterior of said throat and theinterior of said neck adapted for the passage of finely-divided materialtherethrough, a shoulder having a larger diameter than said throat andhaving a maximum diameter approximately the same as the inner diameterof said neck, which shoulder is adapted to seat against said neckadjacent the outer end thereof, an imperforate surface portion betweensaid shoulder and the end of said closure which is gradually tapered soas to be larger in diameter at the outer end than at the inner end andwhich is adapted to be pushed frictionally into said neck, the said endof said closure being imperforate, means adjacent one f end of saidclosure for preventing the withdrawal of said throat from said neck andmeans adjacent the other end of said closure for preventing said closurefrom being pushed through said neck into said container, which lattermeans is adapted to be grasped in withdrawing said surface portion fromfrictional engagement with said neck.

9. A sifter top including` a one piece closure adapted to be insertedinto an opening in a container, said closure comprising an imperforate Athroat of substantial length loosely tting within said opening, therebeing an annular space between the exterior of said throat and theinterior of said opening adapted for the passage of iinely-dividedmaterial therethrough, an imperforate portion adapted to seat againstsaid opening to close said opening and stop means adapted to preventwithdrawal of said throat from said opening, said throat having limitedlongitudinal movement within said opening so F that said portion can bemoved by gravity into and away from seating position against saidopening and said stop means including a resiliently retractable partadapted to permit said closure to be assembled in said opening merely bypushing said throat into said opening, and means intermediate saidportion and the end of said closure adapted to positively close saidopening by pushing said closure downwardly into said opening, said meansand said end of said closure being imperforate.

ALEX LIMBACH.

